That review of the year meme

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Went to Ohio.
Won an award.
Developed RSI in my right elbow (boo).

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
The marquis made me give them up several years ago (along with giving up things for Lent) because he says it just plays into my tendency to create rules.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Aunty Hilda, who was a big part of my early childhood and a lovely person.

5. Which countries did you visit?
Switzerland, Austria, France, the USA.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A new book contract...

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
16th September (which was when I heard about the award)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The Sidney J Bounds Award.
Rejoining a gym and being virtuous about it.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not finishing The Drowning Kings

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major -- the usual colds and so on. And being bitten by the evil invading black cat of evil.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My purple boots.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The marquis, always. Best friend Corvidae and her daughter E (who never ceases to amaze me).

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Everyone who voted on a single issue in the general election and thus let the Tories in.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Books....

15. What were you really, really, really excited about?
The award....

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Probably Alain Stivell, 'Tri Martolod'.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder?
I have no idea.

b) Bigger or smaller?
A bit thinner, I think.

c) Richer or poorer?
About the same.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. And cleaning. And exercising.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Playing Bookworm, worrying, sleeping.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Here, with friends.

21. What was your favourite month of 2010?
September.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No.

23. What was your favourite TV programme?
Misfits.

24. How did you see in the New Year?
Just outside Cambridge, with friends.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, not really.

26. What was the best book you read?
Not sure. Probably Linda H Peterson, Becoming a Woman of Letters.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Carolina Chocolate Drops.

28. What did you want and get?
So many things. An award.

29. What did you want and not get?
A new contract.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I'm not sure. Maybe Prem Deewane.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I can't remember! Party preparation, probably.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting down to the writing more.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Blue. Skirts (some blue).

34. What kept you sane?
The marquis and Mooncat.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The usual suspects -- Yuen Biao and Jackie Shroff.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Tory ideology repackaged as 'rescue'.

37. Who did you miss?
zaan, other best friend Atropos, and all the others I see too infrequently.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Lots of them. stina_leicht, for one. My new next door neighbours.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Sleepwriting doesn't work.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
'Time it was, and what a time it was...'